Douglas Jacoby Podcast

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session 
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session 
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session 
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session 
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session 
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session   
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

Here are the links for the major classes given in the 2015 Biblical Study Tour. The theme was "Finding God When the Church is Adrift," and the teaching took place in the very cities where the early history of the Protestant Reformation played out. Our route took us from Wittenberg to Zurich to Geneva -- that is, from Luther to Zwingli & the Anabaptists to Calvin.

Every Biblical Study Tour is designed to strengthen faith, build connections among believers eager to learn, and bring the Bible to life as we transport ourselves back into history. In 2015 we explored all sections of the Reformation, including the most radical reformers (the Anabaptists). It’s inspiring how valiantly believers struggled to break out of medieval Christianity into a more biblical faith.

Some are video, some are audio:

• Introduction to the Reformation  (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• Flashpoint: Fuel For the Reformation  (Rolan Monje, Manila) - AUDIO FILE
• Luther: Man on Fire  (Gilbert Kimeng, Lagos) + Comments and Q&A
• Zwingli: The Limits of Compromise   (Douglas Jacoby, Atlanta)
• The Radicals: Anabaptists  (Steve Staten, Chicago) + Q&A session   
• Calvin: No Compromise  (Joey Harris, Augusta)
• BST 2015 Reformation  Summary and Q&A  (teachers) - AUDIO FILE

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

EVANGELISM IN THE SECOND CENTURY

• Challenges to evangelism
  • Apostles now gone – tendency to get more and more involved in disputes
  • Persecution: from Jewish to Roman
  • False teachers (Marcionites, Gnostics, Montanists)
  • Evolving priesthood (spectator shift)
• Success!
  • Other nations, but little work outside the bounds of the Roman Empire.
  • Church of the East (per comments in previous podcast)
  • Continued to reach all strata of society (women, slaves – who even served in leadership, and intellectuals – like Justin Martyr)
  • The martyrs greatly inspired others.
  • By 200, up to 1-3% (my guess). By 300, perhaps 10% of Empire.
  • Learn more about this from the main AIM Church History series (2000 years in under 10 hours) and the Early Church History set (about 7 hours).

Conclusion

• We can't always imitate their methods, or recreate the culture of the first 2 centuries, but we can imitate their faith.
  • As in 1 Corinthians 11:1, imitation relates to following Christ, not necessarily methods…
  • As Tertullian put it, around 200 AD, “The blood of the martyrs is seed.”
  • They spoke out, because they believed they had something worth sharing.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

EVANGELISM IN THE FIRST CENTURY

Introduction

• Definition of evangelism: spreading the good news
• 30—Pentecost, 200 – end of century of intense persecution. Will begin with Acts/NT, then move into 2nd C.
• Matthew 28: Every people, not every nation (in the modern sense of the term)
• Mission & purpose (Luke 10:20; Matthew 22:37-40).
• I have 2 impressions on reading Acts: (1) evangelism was not particularly organized, yet (2) it was vibrant.

Impressions

• Natural: Acts 2 – root (v.42) v. fruit (vv.43-47). Acts 8 – word preached publicly by principal leaders, privately by others. Acts 2:47, 4:4 – little interest in counting. Acts 21 – yet terrific growth (myriads = tens of thousands?)
• Vibrant: Acts 4, 5 – couldn’t help speaking! Acts 8 – Spirit working with them, coincidence of Isaiah 53.

Beyond Acts (outside Bible lands)

• India (Thomas), 52 AD+
• Syria-Persia-China (Thaddaeus and Church of the East)
• Britain (some archaeological evidence)
• Spain (Paul, Romans 15: see Isaiah 66)

Further considerations: Challenges

• Persecution
• False teachers (Judaizers, Docetists [Gnostics])
• Slander (cannibalism, incest, lawbreaking)
• Countercultural – yet this also made evangelism more clear-cut, since Christianity clearly stood out as an alternative lifestyle.

Further considerations: What helped them

• Counter-cultural (adopted children, sold themselves into slaver, bribed prison guards, forgave enemies...)
• Homes as centers of evangelism. First church buildings about 230 AD. Hospitality – essential for overseers, since presumably they headed up the groups that met in their homes.
• Preached a person, not a system (2 Corinthians 4:5)

Next podcast: Part II of Evangelism in the Early Church, 30-200 AD, which covers the 2nd century.

For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

"The most successful book series in history: approximately 450 million copies sold internationally. Translated: 67 languages. The film series by Warner Bros.: $7.7 billion worldwide...." -- from magazine.pepperdine.edu, May 2013.

Why Potter?

• Writers like C.S. Lewis (Narnia), J.R.R.R. Tolkien (Lord of the Rings), and many others aim to awaken a sense of the spiritual in young readers. They also help secular thinkers discover their inner longing for the things of the spirit. This is a good thing.
• Protagonists in Harry Potter resist the dark world -- and the dark Lord -- just as we should. These books would be evil indeed if readers were urged to emulate the evil characters (Voldemort, Malfoy).
• Such novels help the relativist to believe in the good and evil, far better than an academic lecture or sermon ever could.
• An additional advantage is that these books get children reading.
• Moreover, if it's wrong for us to read books about dragons, sorcerers, and magic, then the book of Revelation would have to be excluded!
• On a related note, in the words (I think) of G. K. Chesterton, "Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed." My interpretation: Fantasy isn't an inherently bad thing -- unless the message takes away hope. It is yet another way to open people's minds to the truth.

John Granger's intriguing essay:

• I found this article by John Granger (no relation to Hermione) so intriguing that I thought it would make for a great podcast. After seeking the proper permissions, I am pleased to read it to you.
• Is Harry Potter here to stay? And is HP a good thing, or a bad thing? See what you think.
• Content warning: This article is penned by a brilliant literary critic. (He's a lot more cultured than I am!)
• To read the entire article at Christianity Today, click here.

Source: Article from Christianity Today, July 2011: "Harry is Here to Stay," by John Granger. Read with permission of Christianity Today. Borrowed with the blessing of John Granger.

• "The Dean of Harry Potter Scholars" -- TIME
• Author of The Deathly Hallows Lectures
• Author of How Harry Cast His Spell: The Meaning Behind the Mania for J.K. Rowling's Bestselling Books.
• Read more at www.HogwartsProfessor.com/johngranger.